Education and training in palliative care

There is a wide range of palliative care education and training programs available in Victoria. Many courses are available nationally, often as online modules.

Courses cover a wide range of disciplines and at all levels of competency. For up-to-date listings, see the education section on the palliative care knowledge network, Caresearch(opens in a new window).

Postgraduate training

In Victoria, formal postgraduate qualifications for all disciplines are offered through University of Melbourne in collaboration with the Centre for Palliative Care(opens in a new window). Some postgraduate courses are offered at La Trobe University.

The Victorian Palliative Medicine Training Program (VPMTP)(opens in a new window) is a coordinated state-wide palliative medicine training program to address the training requirements for specialist palliative medicine physicians, physicians in other specialities, and general practitioners.

The Victorian Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Collaborative (VPCNPC)(opens in a new window) provides individual Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Practitioner candidates with educational resources, a mentorship program and networking opportunities. Registered Nurses who have completed three years of advanced practice in their area of practice can apply to become a Nurse Practitioner Candidate (NPC).

A number of courses can be credited toward a post-graduate degree in palliative care for all disciplines. These are provided by the Centre for Palliative Care(opens in a new window) in collaboration with the University of Melbourne.

Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA)

PEPA is a training program offering supervised clinical placements, workshops and post-placement support to healthcare workers.

This national flagship program is designed to improve the skills, confidence and expertise of all health practitioners who care for people who require end of life or palliative care and their families, friends and carers.

PEPA is available to general practitioners, nurses, allied health professionals, Aboriginal health workers, personal care attendants, interpreters, aged care workers and other health workers.

PEPA is a flexible program with three core components:

• supervised clinical placements with self-determined flexible learning to build knowledge and confidence and to enhance links between specialist palliative care providers and other service providers
• workshops on fundamental and specific topics in palliative care
• post-placement support activities, including the opportunity to implement a quality activity of a participants own choice, back in the workplace.

More information and guidelines can be found on the PEPA Education(opens in a new window) website.

Aboriginal palliative care program

The Victorian Aboriginal Palliative Care Program is delivered by the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO)(opens in a new window).

The program aims to facilitate culturally appropriate and safe training in palliative care for Aboriginal practitioners, either through the PEPA program(opens in a new window) or other relevant training programs.

The objective is for Aboriginal people to have access to culturally safe palliative care services in the setting of their preference.

Volunteers

Volunteers are highly valued members of the palliative care workforce, and make a significant contribution to the care of people with life-limiting illness and the support of their families.

If you would like to be a volunteer, many specialist palliative care services offer training programs.

Palliative Care Victoria provide further information on applying to be a volunteer and some resources for service providers.

The Victorian palliative care volunteer standards aim to:

• foster greater awareness of the role of volunteers in palliative care
• support and promote volunteer engagement in palliative care
• limit organisations’ legal liability with regard to volunteer engagement in palliative care services
• assist organisations to develop volunteer policies and principles.

Download a copy of the standards:

For more information on volunteering, go to Palliative Care Victoria - volunteering(opens in a new window), Victoria's Volunteering Portal(opens in a new window), or Volunteering Australia(opens in a new window).